Chennai, Feb 8: ICWO, a Chennai based non-government organisation (NGO) launched a helpline for homosexuals to provide professional and emotion counselling on Saturday, Feb 7. A J Hariharan, the Indian Community Welfare Organisation (ICWO) founder Secretary said that the helpline will address the issues faced by homosexuals.

"We want to create some developmental programs for lesbian communities in Tamil Nadu. It will be created as a model for other States to take up. Further more, burning issues like stigma, discrimination, ill treatment and isolation because of being of same sexual orientation, have been facing a lot of violence. This help line will address these issues of lesbian community," said Hariharan.

As for lady homosexuals, Jenni mentioned that this help line would come to the aid of others like her to come out of depression.

"We, lesbian people, are large in numbers. One can find then in families, in colleges and just about everywhere. Indian Community Welfare Organisation (ICWO) phone help line will be very helpful for lesbian women to come out of depression through proper counselling and prevent them from committing suicide. I have come out of depression. Likewise for others too this will be useful," noted Jenni, a homosexual based in Chennai.

The helpline which will be functioning from 7 am to 5 pm throughout the week, will render various services like counselling, emotional support and livelihood assistance to homosexuals.

ICWC is an NGO working for the transgenders, eunuchs, homosexuals and the marginalised sections of the society.

OneIndia News (With inputs from Agencies)

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